Targeting ageing with rapamycin and its derivatives in humans: a systematic review
What this study shows
The first systematic review of rapamycin/rapalogs in humans for aging. Screened 18,400 articles, included 19 studies. Found improvements in immune, cardiovascular, and skin (integumentary) parameters; NO significant effect on endocrine, muscular, or neurological systems. No serious adverse events in healthy people, but more infections and raised cholesterol/triglycerides in people with age-related disease. This is the highest-tier human-evidence summary in the whole Atlas - it aggregates many individual human studies rather than reporting one.
At a glance
| Evidence type | S Synthesis of human data Marked S because it synthesizes multiple human studies (a systematic review or meta-analysis); the code names the kind of study, not the quality of any single included study. |
| Study type | 1 - Systematic Review |
| Model system | Systematic review (19 human studies, 5 databases) |
| Journal | Lancet Healthy Longevity |
| Year | 2024 |
| Peer reviewed | Yes |
| Record last updated | 2026-08-22 |
| Source | DOI 10.1016/S2666-7568(23)00258-1 · PMID 38310895 |
Extracted findings
| Intervention | Rapamycin and rapalogs (aggregate of 19 studies) |
| Target | mTOR |
| Model | Human – systematic review (19 studies, 5 databases) |
| Effect | Improved immune, cardiovascular and skin parameters; no effect on endocrine/muscular/neurological systems |
In the Atlas
Related topics
Open questions that cite this study
- Cited as supporting evidence for the open question A sensor/autophagy biomarker panel as a surrogate endpoint for human trials.
- Cited as supporting evidence for the open question Low-dose mTOR inhibition rejuvenates the aging immune system without net immunosuppression.
- Cited as supporting evidence for the open question Brain-penetrant mTOR inhibition clears neurodegenerative aggregates in models but has zero human cognitive-aging endpoint - and mTORC2 is needed for memory.
Answers that reference this study
- Discussed in the plain-language answer Does rapamycin extend lifespan in humans?.
- Discussed in the plain-language answer Rapamycin vs metformin – how do they compare for longevity?.
- Discussed in the plain-language answer Are sirolimus and everolimus the same drug?.
More studies on this topic
- mTOR inhibition improves immune function in the elderly (2014)
- TORC1 inhibition enhances immune function and reduces infections in the elderly (2018)
- A randomized control trial to establish the feasibility and safety of rapamycin treatment in an older human cohort (2018)
- Targeting the biology of ageing with mTOR inhibitors to improve immune function in older adults: phase 2b and phase 3 randomised trials (2021)
Learn the biology
Want to understand the biology behind this study? → How to Read an mTOR Paper